Cam question pricing - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

birminghamss · 07-02-2015, 12:15 PM

So i stopped at my local performance shop that every one talks about the great work they do. And asked about doing a everyday driver but nice cam swap. I get this email last night with a quote. This seems a little much to me. Am i wrong??
what should i be asking for?

ClawSS · 07-02-2015, 12:25 PM

Is your car an automatic, thus having a L99 engine? The parts list seems to include LS3 conversion parts.

Unreal · 07-02-2015, 12:25 PM

Yah, lot of bad things on that quote.

A set of lifters is $140 for example. Not $508. That is crazy.
Head gaskets are $32 a pop.
A gallon of coolant is not $35.
Mobil 1 isn't $10 a quart.

Plus what is in the $1300 cam kit? A cam cost $350-425. Springs are $300 or so, push rods are $100. What else is in that $1300 cam kit price?

LS3 ARP head studs are <$300, not $380, and head studs are not even close to needed for a heads/cam build. Can do ARP bolts for $120.
No need to discharge AC.
Tuning price is up there and I wouldn't go with a place without a set price. Lots of those parts are way overpriced and marked up.

GONIF · 07-02-2015, 12:43 PM

Were I you I would contact another Alabama member named Bo White , I am sure he can steer you in the right direction to get your car done RIGHT at a fair price.

christianchevell · 07-02-2015, 05:53 PM

got my ls3 lifters ebay for $95 shipped, yah that cam price...arg, The best cam motion cam 8620 core with titanium locks and good springs is like $800, push rods are $100 hardened trick flow Summit...and yes they have to be sized right for the base circle of the new cam. And they want to charge you too much...Freon then to charge the system this estimate includes all the labor into the costs? like the "cam kit" or what , and the cloyes gear whats that ? a three bolt $25 cam gear....with out a good chain.... as they would not drop the pan for that price to do the chain, And the arp head studs are a option..or you could go with stock gm torque to yield one time use bolts...$100.

This estimate must include the labor that's all I can say..... for not too bad if its with labor and jacked up prices, but hey. I only use driven racing oil, and use it for a break in then dump it after dyno tune then do a break in again for 500 miles with br30 to make sure I get any crap out of my oil. Mobil one is stock crap but hey you want that go right ahead, many do not believe in even breaking in cam because its a roller...and those may be the same guys who say hey my cam just......... And BTW you buy a new engine from some of the best places that make LS3 engines and you get with the price or insisted apon for a warranty two rounds of BR30..... And I insist on a break in for a cam, I am a old motor head. http://www.drivenracingoil.com/news/...tech-bulletin/

Anyway I can lead a horse to water.....

Bodywerks · 07-02-2015, 10:52 PM

I'm with Unreal here. That 'cam package' had better include the labor to do the job, or that's the cam, trunnion upgrade, springs, retainers, melling oil pump, C5R chain and gear, pushrods etc. And even still that's up there for the parts I listed, like $500 more than it should be.
I've seen 'cam packages' for as little as $650
If that cam package is for a bunch of components and no labor and you are planning on having them do it, they'll probably tack on another $1k-1,500+ in labor
And why are they wanting to change lifters? There's nothing wrong with the stock lifters for a street cam application.
Head studs is WAY overkill for this mild of a job. I'd definitely go ARP bolts, though.

LOBBS · 07-02-2015, 11:41 PM

Looks like labor is included in with the parts as there's no separate line item for it. Easy way to sneak some extra margin in. Once you've torn down past a certain point there's not a lot of extra time involved to swap out a few other things while you're in there.

Bo White · 07-03-2015, 12:23 AM

He contacted me. The shop in question work on peoples cars that have money and like to be able to say such and such shop did the work.

hamilton2008 · 07-04-2015, 03:00 PM

Seems like some unessasary stuff is be thrown in

avido · 07-04-2015, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bo White

He contacted me. The shop in question work on peoples cars that have money and like to be able to say such and such shop did the work.

i work with people who has a lot of money too,but i have never ripped someone off with double the price because they are rich...

crazy

Bo White · 07-04-2015, 04:59 PM

Thats America for you. Some like to brag about how much they spend. Im sure theres rich people all over the world like that. Just theres alot here like that.

Joseph1LE · 07-04-2015, 05:36 PM

Run far far away from that... Thats insane pricing.

birminghamss · 07-04-2015, 06:08 PM

Yeah there are alot of things i dont mind paying a little more for because it would be done right and i know they will take care of my vehicle. When i talked to them in person they seemed like it wouldnt be that much in my head from way he was talking was thinking some where around 1000-1500 and then he hit me with that!!!!

Rhino79 · 07-04-2015, 06:53 PM

Our cam/afm delete package is 1375 for the parts. We retain the vvt and delete the afm. That eliminates needing a cam gear, front cover. U also don't need head studs.

07-02-2015, 12:25 PM	#2
ClawSS High-tech Redneck Drives: '10 CGM SS, '02 2500HD, '09 300SRT8 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 757	Is your car an automatic, thus having a L99 engine? The parts list seems to include LS3 conversion parts. __________________ "My friends call me Chris. Are you my friend?" 2010 CGM L99 2SS/RS - GPI SS3 VVT, BTR DoD Delete, Circle D 4c, BTR springs, Katech C5R Timing Chain, MRR-228 315/275, CAI, Elite catch-can, TSP 1 7/8" Headers + offroad pipes, Magnaflow 3", Pfadt springs, BMR LCAs, toelinks, trailing arms, cradle bushings, & sway bars w/ endlinks, Vitesse paddles, heritage grille, and an eBay splitter. Power upgrades by Race Proven Perf.; Tuning by ShorTuning.

07-02-2015, 12:25 PM	#3
Unreal Drives: 2006 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,712	Yah, lot of bad things on that quote. A set of lifters is $140 for example. Not $508. That is crazy. Head gaskets are $32 a pop. A gallon of coolant is not $35. Mobil 1 isn't $10 a quart. Plus what is in the $1300 cam kit? A cam cost $350-425. Springs are $300 or so, push rods are $100. What else is in that $1300 cam kit price? LS3 ARP head studs are <$300, not $380, and head studs are not even close to needed for a heads/cam build. Can do ARP bolts for $120. No need to discharge AC. Tuning price is up there and I wouldn't go with a place without a set price. Lots of those parts are way overpriced and marked up. __________________ Nick Corvette Z06 -1200ish rwhp

07-02-2015, 12:43 PM	#4
GONIF Drives: 73 VETTE ,, 05 2500hd diesel,14 1LE Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: The Left lane PHOENIX AZ Posts: 2,626	Were I you I would contact another Alabama member named Bo White , I am sure he can steer you in the right direction to get your car done RIGHT at a fair price. __________________ OLD GUY FLYING FAST AND LOW

07-02-2015, 05:53 PM	#5
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Manual,DM exhaust,CRT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,588 View My Garage	got my ls3 lifters ebay for $95 shipped, yah that cam price...arg, The best cam motion cam 8620 core with titanium locks and good springs is like $800, push rods are $100 hardened trick flow Summit...and yes they have to be sized right for the base circle of the new cam. And they want to charge you too much...Freon then to charge the system this estimate includes all the labor into the costs? like the "cam kit" or what , and the cloyes gear whats that ? a three bolt $25 cam gear....with out a good chain.... as they would not drop the pan for that price to do the chain, And the arp head studs are a option..or you could go with stock gm torque to yield one time use bolts...$100. This estimate must include the labor that's all I can say..... for not too bad if its with labor and jacked up prices, but hey. I only use driven racing oil, and use it for a break in then dump it after dyno tune then do a break in again for 500 miles with br30 to make sure I get any crap out of my oil. Mobil one is stock crap but hey you want that go right ahead, many do not believe in even breaking in cam because its a roller...and those may be the same guys who say hey my cam just......... And BTW you buy a new engine from some of the best places that make LS3 engines and you get with the price or insisted apon for a warranty two rounds of BR30..... And I insist on a break in for a cam, I am a old motor head. http://www.drivenracingoil.com/news/...tech-bulletin/ Anyway I can lead a horse to water..... __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data, Carbon, Nav, RotoFab Dry CAI, Elite x2, Borla ATK, Driveshaft shop

07-02-2015, 10:52 PM	#6
Bodywerks Drives: 2015 2SS/RS/1LE Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Tucson Posts: 866	I'm with Unreal here. That 'cam package' had better include the labor to do the job, or that's the cam, trunnion upgrade, springs, retainers, melling oil pump, C5R chain and gear, pushrods etc. And even still that's up there for the parts I listed, like $500 more than it should be. I've seen 'cam packages' for as little as $650 If that cam package is for a bunch of components and no labor and you are planning on having them do it, they'll probably tack on another $1k-1,500+ in labor And why are they wanting to change lifters? There's nothing wrong with the stock lifters for a street cam application. Head studs is WAY overkill for this mild of a job. I'd definitely go ARP bolts, though. __________________ 2015 SS/RS/1LE HSA delete, VMAX throttle body, CAI inc. Intake, PRC255 heads, BTR 660 springs, BTR cryo-treated rockers, PAT G 232/240 .654/.626 110+2, johnson 2110's, Manton 502 pushrods, C5R, Melling high volume/high pressure, Powerbond 25% underdrive pulley, Proform covers, Kooks stepped headers, catless mids, Doug Thorley exhaust. 512rwhp, 446rwtq on a mustang dyno, tuned by Cunningham motorsports.

07-02-2015, 11:41 PM	#7
LOBBS Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Independence, MO Posts: 472 View My Garage	Looks like labor is included in with the parts as there's no separate line item for it. Easy way to sneak some extra margin in. Once you've torn down past a certain point there's not a lot of extra time involved to swap out a few other things while you're in there.

07-03-2015, 12:23 AM	#8
Bo White Drives: 2015 Summit White 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vance Alabama Posts: 8,018	He contacted me. The shop in question work on peoples cars that have money and like to be able to say such and such shop did the work. __________________ Retired wanna be cylinder head porter 2015 2SS 1LE Clutch reservoir, Vararam DRX, ported TB, TSP 2" headers, MGW shifter Totalled: 2010 1SS Wilkes Performance/Eagle 416 shortblock, TSP custom valvetrain, PRC 260 heads, Edelbrock Pro Flo 102, th400 swap, 8" PTC 5500 stall= 535/435 at the wheels tuned Gen 3 Performance and Dyno 10.97 @ 124 full weight in 3100 DA CamaroFest X

07-04-2015, 03:00 PM	#9
hamilton2008 Account Suspended Drives: 2016 CAMARO SS/ gpi built Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Cabot ar Posts: 374	Seems like some unessasary stuff is be thrown in

07-04-2015, 04:59 PM	#11
Bo White Drives: 2015 Summit White 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vance Alabama Posts: 8,018	Thats America for you. Some like to brag about how much they spend. Im sure theres rich people all over the world like that. Just theres alot here like that. __________________ Retired wanna be cylinder head porter 2015 2SS 1LE Clutch reservoir, Vararam DRX, ported TB, TSP 2" headers, MGW shifter Totalled: 2010 1SS Wilkes Performance/Eagle 416 shortblock, TSP custom valvetrain, PRC 260 heads, Edelbrock Pro Flo 102, th400 swap, 8" PTC 5500 stall= 535/435 at the wheels tuned Gen 3 Performance and Dyno 10.97 @ 124 full weight in 3100 DA CamaroFest X

07-04-2015, 05:36 PM	#12
Joseph1LE Drives: 2015 Camaro SS 1LE, 2001 Camaro SS Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Miami Posts: 836	Run far far away from that... Thats insane pricing. __________________ 2017 GMC Canyon All Terrain- daily driver/dirt bike hauler 2015 Camaro SS 1LE- sold 2001 Camaro SS SOM M6- sold 1999 Firebird Formula A4- sold

07-04-2015, 06:08 PM	#13
birminghamss 2015 Commemorative SS/2SS Drives: 2015 SS Commemorative Edition Join Date: May 2015 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 127	Yeah there are alot of things i dont mind paying a little more for because it would be done right and i know they will take care of my vehicle. When i talked to them in person they seemed like it wouldnt be that much in my head from way he was talking was thinking some where around 1000-1500 and then he hit me with that!!!! __________________ 2015 SS/2SS Commemorative edition (stripe deleted). United States Camaro Club, BMR split drop, Copper colored wheels, RotoFab intake, GM strut bar, blacked out side markers, painted engine pieces, tint, tredwear letters (tire), more to come...

07-04-2015, 06:53 PM	#14
Rhino79 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS L99/Auto Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Cabot, AR Posts: 2,827 View My Garage	Our cam/afm delete package is 1375 for the parts. We retain the vvt and delete the afm. That eliminates needing a cam gear, front cover. U also don't need head studs.